Machine for splitting heel blanks or the like



1961 J. T. VINCENT ETAL 3,013,425

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING HEEL BLANKS OR THE LIKE Filed June 28, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENT MA N SHELTON, JAC T. VINCENT v BY a F WA A TTORNE Y Dec. 1961 J. T- VINCENT ETAL 3,013,425

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING HEEL BLANKS OR THE LIKE Filed June 28, 1960 INVENTORS MARVIN SHELTON, JR. JA CK T. VINCENT FIG." f 4 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 3,013,425 MAQHINE FER SPLITTING HEEL BLANKS GR THE LIKE Jack T. Vincent, 205 Church St., and Marvin Shelton, In, 125 /2 Church St., both of Martin, Tenn. Filed June 28, 1960, Ser. No. 39,337 9 Claims. (Cl. 69-10) This invention relates to a machine for splitting heel blanks or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a heel blank splitting machine which is automatic in operation and which will rapidly and efficiently sever or split the heel blanks in a uniform manner and on the desired angle of cut, without the necessity of feeding the blanks by hand or by means of feed rollers which are like ly to damage or mark the blanks so that they are unfit for use.

A further object is to provide in a machine of the above-mentioned character novel adjustable cutter means which will split the blanks so as to provide any desired angle on the beveled ends of the heels formed from each blank.

A further object is to provide a simplified machine for splitting shoe heel blanks and the like formed of leather, rubber, plastics material and other materials suitable for making heels.

Still another object is to provide a machine of the mentioned character which is rugged and durable in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of the invention,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a machine for splitting heel blanks according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the machine,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of a central portion of the machine,

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 55 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 6 is a similar section taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary central vertical longitudinal section through the machine with the blank feeding means in one operative position,

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 with the blank feeding means in another or active position,

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a heel blank,

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a severed heel blank forming two heels,

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of a heel splitting machine according to a modification of the invention,

FIGURE 12 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 1212 of FIGURE 11.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, attention is directed first to FIGURE 1 through 10, wherein the numeral 15 designates generally a suitable rigid supporting framework, including upper spacedhorizontal longitudinal frame bars 16, vertical leg portions 17 and other desired bracing.

Intermediate the opposite ends of the framework 15,

and mounted upon the longitudinal bars 16, is a stationary flat horizontal rectangular base plate 18. A longitudinally reciprocatory rectangular blank feed plate 19 of lesser width than the base plate 18 is slidably mounted upon the latter with its opposite longitudinal edges spaced inwardly equidistantly from the longitudinal edges of the base plate, as shown. Longitudinal paralllel guide rails or strips 20 for the blank feed plate 19 are mounted upon the base plate 18 adjacent the longitudinal edges of the feed plate and slidably engageable with such edges. L011- gitudinal cover strips 21 are in turn mounted upon the guide rails 20 and project somewhat inwardly thereof in overlapping relation with the feed plate 19 as best shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The feed plate 19 also slidably engages the inner edge portions of the cover strips Zl. Bolts means 22 serve to rigidly interconnect the cover strips 21, rails Ztl and base plate 18 with the frame bars 16. The bolt means 22 do not engage the reciprocatory blank feed plate 19, which is free to move longitudinally upon the base plate 18 and between the rails 26.

Mounted directly above the feed plate 19 near the forward end of base plate i8 is a vertical hopper 23 for a multiplicity of unsevered shoe heel blanks 24, arranged in stacked relation and slidably engaging the side walls of the hopper, as shown. The hopper has a bottom marginal bank 25 rigid therewith and flush with its lower end and engaging the top of feed plate 19 slidably, see FIGURE 5. Horizontal extension plates 26, rigidly secured to opposite ends of the band 25 rest upon the cover strips 21 and are rigidly secured thereto at 27. The hopper may have diagonal braces 23 near its lower end as indicated.

A transverse depressed horizontal guide bar 29 is disposed adjacent the forward end of base plate 18 and adapted to engage slidably the top face of feed plate 19, when the same is in a forward or active position for feeding a blank. The upwardly offset ends 3121 of the guide bar 29 are secured by a pair of the bolt means 22 previously described. The ends 3d of the bar 29 rest directly upon the cover strips 21.

The feed plate 19 is provided near and rearwardly of its forward end and at its transverse center with a transversely elongated opening 31 having rounded ends 32 and a notch 33 at the longitudinal center of its rear side or edge. A forward slot 34, formed through the leading edge of feed plate 19 communicates with the opening 31 centrally as best shown in FIGURE 4. The elongated opening 31 is of a shape and size to register with the bottom of hopper 23 and to receive snugly by the action of gravity each blank 24 stacked within the hopper.

Means are provided to continuously reciprocate the feed plate 19 longitudinally beneath the hopper 23. Such means comprises a suitable motor 35, rigidly mounted upon the base 36 of framework 15. A large pulley 37 is journaled for rotation at 38 upon the adjacent frame bar 16, near the rear end of the framework. The pulley 38 is carried by a rotatable shaft 39, rigid therewith, and further journaled for rotation at 40 upon a longitudinal frame bar 41. The shaft 39 carries a small gear 42, inwardly of pulley 37, meshing with a larger gear 43, carried :by a rearwardly spaced transverse shaft 44, journaled for rotation at 45 upon the frame bar 16. The large pulley 37 is operatively connected with a pulley 46 on the armature shaft of motor 35 by a belt 47.

The shaft 4 carries an eccentric disc 48, rigid therewith, having an eccentric crank pin 49, pivotally connected with an oscillating link Stl, having divergent forward arms 51, pivoted at 52 to a U-shaped yoke 53, rigidly secured by welding or the like to the top of feed plate 19 adjacent its rear end. As should now be obvious, operation of the motor 35 causes eccentric 4%, link 50 and associated elements to reciprocate the feed plate 19 longitudinally beneath the hopper 23.

lust forwardly of the base plate 13, FIGURE 1, a blank splitter knife 54 having a leading cutting edge 55 is secured rigidly to a longitudinal horizontal screw shaft 56 having screw-threaded engagement with an upstanding lug 57, rigidly secured to a transverse horizontal knife holder bar 58. A look nut 59 on the screw shaft fiti servcs to lock the knife 54 in the selected angularly ad usted position relative to the horizontal blanks 24. For example, the knife 54 may be set at 45 degrees to the horizontal or at any other desired angle including vertical. The knife holder bar 58 rests upon the forward portions of frame bars 16 and is adjustably rigidly secured thereto by suitable clamp brackets 60, as shown. The knife 5-? is therefore bodily adjustable longitudinally and transversely and also angularly adjustable, as stated. The cutting edge 55 of the knife is aligned centrally with the slot 34 and notch 33 of feed plate 19.

Means are provided to eject the severed blanks 24 from the opening 31 of the feed plate, substantially simultaneously with the splitting of each blank. This means comprises a rock shaft 61, journaled for rotation at 62 above the knife 54 and near its longitudinal center, Re silient ejector fingers 63 are rigidly secured to the rock shaft 61 on opposite sides of the knife 54, and these fingers include depending extensions 64, arranged in the path of travel of the leading edge of feed plate 19 on opposite sides of the slot 34. The ejector fingers 63, when actuated by the feed plate 19, are adapted to engage the top of each severed blank 24 to eject the severed blank sections or heels 65 downwardly and into a suitable underlying chute or collection receptacle, not shown, FIGURES 7 and S. An arm 66 rigid with the rock shaft 61 is secured to a retractile spring 67, having its lower end fastened to a lower member of the framework 15. The arm 66 may have an extension 68 to bear upon the adjacent frame bar 16 for limiting the downward movement of the arm 66. The spring 67 maintains the ejector fingers 63 normally elevated above the feed plate 19, FIGURE 7, and the depending extensions 64 are in the path of travel of the feed plate, as stated. When the feed plate 19 engages the extensions 64 as in FIGURE 8, the heels 65 are ejected downwardly by the fingers 63, due to rotation of the rock shaft 61 in a clockwise direction. The spring 67 yields to permit this, and then returns the rock shaft and fingers to their normal positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 7.

In FIGURES 11 and 12, a modification is shown, wherein the fixed splitting knife 54 is replaced by an endless band knife 69, engaged by a pair of pulleys '70 and 71, journaled for rotation upon a supporting frame 72, rigidly secured to an upstanding bracket 73, pivoted at 74 to a transverse bar 75 rigid with the framework 15. The bracket 73 has a plurality of adjusting openings 76, arranged in an arcuate row, concentric with pivot 74, and a bolt or pin 77 engageable through an opening in a vertical framework leg 78 is selectively engageable within the openings 76 to adjust the angle of the frame 72 and band 69 with respect to the horizontal blanks 24. The angle of the band knife 69 relative to the blanks and the position of the cutting edge of the band knife are thus adjustable in a manner similar to that in which the previously described rigid knife 54 is adjustable. The band knife 69 is located in the same manner with respect to the feed plate 19 and its slot 34 as previously described in connection with the stationary knife 54.

A suitable driving motor 79 for pulley 71 may be mounted directly upon the pivoted frame 72. as shown, or the motor for the band knife may be mounted separately upon the main framework and connected with one of the pulleys 70 or 71 through suitable belt means or gearing. The arrangement shown in the drawings eliminates the necessity for belt adjusting means whenever the angle of the swinging frame 72 is changed, because the motor 79 is always in driving engagement with the pulley 71.

In the operation of the machine, the motor 35 drives the eccentric 48 continuously, and the feed plate 19 reciprocates continuously beneath the lower discharge end of hopper 23. Each time that the feed plate 19 reaches the end of its backstroke, FIGURES 1 and 7, the opening 31 registers with the bottom of the hopper, and the lowermost blank 24 in the stack of blanks will enter the opening 31 and rest slidably upon the base plate 13. The thickness of the feed plate 19 in the machine will depend upon the thickness of the blanks being split, and this factor is a variable.

As the feed plate 19 54, the blank 24 within moves forwardly toward the knife the opening or pocket 31 will slide forwardly, and the cutting edge 55 will enter the slot 34 and sever the blank 24 completely transversely on the desired angle of cut to produce the pair of heels 65 shown in FIGURE 10. When the feed plate 19 is at the forward end of its travel, the cutting edge 55 will enter the notch 33 to assure that the blank 24 is completely severed, FIGURE 8.

Substantially simultaneously, the leading edge of the feed plate 19 will actuate the ejector fingers 63 in the manner previously described and shown in FIGURE 8 to remove each severed blank from the opening 31 of the feed plate, and this arrangement eliminates the possibility of the heels 65 sticking within the opening 31 while the feed plate is retracted to pick up the next lowermost blank 24 in the hopper 23.

The above mode of operation is rapid and continuous, and the angle of out can be adjusted by turning the knife 54 upon the axis of screw shaft 56, as previously explained. It is merely necessary to replenish the supply of blanks in the hopper 23 occasionally to produce a large number of heels 65 automatically and in a fast manner.

With respect to the modification, FIGURES 11 and 12, the mode of operation of the machine is identical to that above described except for the fact that the blanks 24 are split on the desired angle of cut by the moving band knife 69 instead of by the fixed knife 54. The upper run of the band knife 69 occupies the same position relative to each blank and relative to the slot 34 and notch 33 as does the cutting edge of the fixed knife 54 in the prior form of the invention.

All other parts of the machine in FIGURES 11 and 12 and not shown therein are identical in construction and operation to the corresponding parts shown in FIGURES 1 through 10.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our 1. A machine for splitting heel blanks or the like comprising a support, an upright hopper for a stack of heel blanks mounted upon the support and having an open bottom end, a base plate mounted upon the support beneath said hopper and spaced somewhat below said bottom open end, a reciprocatory feed plate slidably engaging the support and base plate and disposed between the bottom open end of the hopper and base plate and having a pocket to receive the heel blanks in succession from the bottom of said stack, the feed plate having a passage in its leading end communicating with said pocket, means to continuously reciprocate the feed plate, and a knife mounted upon said support forwardly of the hopper and feed plate and adapted to enter said passage and to sever each blank within said pocket completely.

2. A machine for splitting heel blanks or the like comprising a support, an upstanding hopper for a stack of heel blanks mounted upon the support, a base plate mounted upon the support below the hopper, a reciprocatory feed plate interposed between the bottom of the hopper and base plate and having opening means to receive each blank in succession from the bottom of the stack and a passage leading into the opening means, means to reciprocate said feed plate continuously beneath the hopper, and a knife mounted upon the support near one side of the base plate and hopper in opposition to the feed plate and adapted to pass through said passage and opening means and to invention, we claim:

55 sever each blank in the opening means completely when the feed plate moves toward said knife.

3. A machine for splitting heel blanks or the like comprising a support, a base plate mounted upon the support, a hopper extending above the base plate and adapted to contain a stack of heel blanks and having its lower end spaced slightly above the base plate, a reciprocatory feed plate slidable upon the base plate beneath the lower end of the hopper and having opening means registerable with the lower end of the hopper when the feed plate is in one operative position and a passage leading into said opening means, whereby the lowermost heel blank within said stack may then enter the opening means and rest upon said base plate, a knife arranged near one end of the base plate in opposed relation to the feed plate and adapted to enter the passage and opening means and sever the blank therein when the feed plate moves toward the knife, means to reciprocate the feed plate continuously, and resilient movable ejector means in the path of travel of the feed plate and actuated thereby when the feed plate is shifted toward the knife to eject the severed heel blank from the opening means of the feed plate.

4. A machine for splitting heel blanks or the like according to claim 3, and wherein said knife is set at an angle with respect to the blank and feed plate and adjustably secured to said support so that its angle may be varied.

5. A machine for splitting heel blanks or the like according to claim 3, and wherein said knife is an endless band knife, support frame means carrying said band knife and pivoted to said support, means adjustably interconnecting said frame means and support so that the angle of the band knife relative to each blank may be adjusted, and power operated means for driving the band knife.

6. A.machine for splitting heel blanks or the like according to claim 3, and wherein said knife comprises a rigid blade having a cutting edge adapted to be set at an angle to the horizontal, a screw-threaded element carrying said knife and having screw-threaded engagement with the support, and means to lock the screwthreaded element and knife in selected angularly adjusted positions.

7. A machine for splitting heel blanks comprising a supporting bed, a hopper extending above the supporting bed and adapted to receive a stack of heel blanks, a reciprocatory feed plate slidable upon the supporting bed beneath said hopper and having pocket means registerable with the lower end of the hopper to receive heel blanks in succession from the hopper and a passage leading into the pocket means, means to continuously reciprocate said feed plate, a knife mounted in the path of travel of the feed plate near one side of the hopper and adapted to enter the passage and pocket means and to split the heel blank within the pocket, and means operated by the movement of the feed plate for ejecting the split blank from the pocket means of the feed plate.

8. A machine for splitting heel blanks according to claim 7, and wherein said feed plate has a slot in its leading edge communicating with the pocket means and a notch adjacent one side of the pocket means and opposite said slot, whereby said knife entering the pocket means passes through the slot and subsequently enters the notch to assure complete severing of the blank Within the pocket means.

9. A machine for splitting heel blanks according to claim 7, and wherein said last-named means is a rock shaft journaled upon said bed, ejecting fingers carried by said rock shaft and including depending extensions in the path of travel of the feed plate, and resilient means connected with the rock shaft to bias the same in a direction maintaining said fingers normally elevated above the feed plate, engagement of the feed plate with said depending extensions turning the rock shaft in a direction whereby the fingers move downwardly and eject the severed blank from the pocket means of the feed plate.

No references cited. 

